As the local beauty industry slowly returns to its former glory with drops by the day, we have taken it into our hands to talk weekly about some of the best beauty launches. Some are noteworthy for their instant results, while others are special simply because they make us feel and look good.
Here, the top 10 beauty launches that landed on GRAZIA’s beauty desk or piqued our interest this week.
Pictured Above: 1. Cream Sheen
Trust Dior to make a beauty product desirable by designing it as a fashion accessory and of course, fully expect them to formulate it to be cosmetically elegant. This balm can be used on the hands, lips, and body where it seems to “cocoon” the skin with hydration (but note, no stickiness!) and for dryer areas, we love mixing it with an oil to instantly soften them. A small detail we love too is that its cap closes with a satisfying ASMR-worthy click.
Dior Le Baume, $88
2. SMOOTH SCALE
The problems we have with most salt scrubs are that they either burn our scalp even with gentle exfoliation, leave a clumpy mess despite thorough rinsing, or end up completely drying our stands out. We’re happy to report that this one doesn’t and instead, removes all the dead skin cells and oil buildup on your scalp with just one use. The salt used in it is the right size and grain which means that it’ll never cause small cuts on your scalp and its rosemary essential oil is super relaxing to inhale after a long stressful day.
AROMATICA Rosemary Scalp Scrub, $25
3. SPREADING THIN
Truth be told, we often receive sunscreens of all finishes, delivery mechanisms, and prices but if you were to ask us to recommend you one, we’d most definitely pick this. This spray product dispenses the right amount of sunscreen—more often than not, such sprays dispense too much or too little—for even coverage and the inclusion of squalene means it doubles up as a moisturising one too. It’s also very handy in our opinion as you can retouch your sunscreen application over the day as this one doesn’t interfere with makeup.
Biore UV Aqua Rich Aqua Protect Mist, $22.10
4. SMOOTH SET
Created to compliment Estée Lauder’s Double Wear foundation, this primer’s purpose is to make sure that the foundation “fits” onto the skin. Think of it like a “magnet” that attracts and holds down any kind of foundation with said “magnet” also being a hydrating, smoothing, and skin-tone evening one. It also comes with blue light protection which makes it useful for people who are constantly on their devices but as for its SPF rating, it is advisable to still use a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 before applying it.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Second Skin Cream Primer SPF 20/PA++, $80
5. ALL HOURS
If you’re looking for an intensely coloured lipstick that gives a soft-matte finish, this one is it. While you’ll most definitely need to make sure your lips are conditioned before application, we like that this one never flakes or crusts even if you’re a chronic lip licker. Also, its bullet has a rounded base that spreads nicely and its pointed tip ensures you can either draw a precise line around your lips or in the middle if you’re into the gradient look. Pictured above is shade 879 Mystery Plum which is our favourite as it gives that “soft-girl” look we’re currently into.
Guerlain Rouge G Luxurious Velvet Matte Lipstick, $54
6. COOL DOWN
We’ve been noticing mild heat rashes on our bodies with the recent heat wave, especially in areas like in-between the thighs or arms, and this refreshing moisturising gel lotion instantly soothes them with just one application. Formulated with two kinds of ceramides and an amino acid, we like that it comes unscented too which makes it non-sensitising even on eczema-prone skin. Pro tip: leave it in the fridge before application to boost its cooling effects. It’s clinically tested to reduce skin temperature by 10°c in just 10 mins so imagine how much more wonderful it’ll feel if the product itself is cooled before use.
ILLIYOON Ceramide Ato Soothing Gel For Body And Face, $27.50
7. DELICATE NATURE
Elegant, delicate, and fresh, this scent with just two notes of freshwater and peony might seem basic to some but in our opinion, it’s the perfect potion for days when the weather gets too hot or if we want to spritz something on that’s light and easy. We also like using this perfume as a finisher when we layer as its crispness and floral-notes float beautifully on top of heavier ones like vanilla, oud, or amber.
Issey Miyake L’Eau D’Issey Pivoine Eau De Toilette Intense, $137 for 50ml
8. HEAVY METAL
There are fragrances and then there are fragrance bombs, a term used by perfume enthusiasts to describe one that has incredible throw and pillage. This term best describes this one which despite having just three notes—juicy pomegranate, musky white florals, and sensual wood—lasts for hours in the heat and signifies your presence to a room even before you walk through the door. In short, it’s a floral fragrance that’s not made for wallflowers. Use it to command attention and attract the spotlight!
Paco Rabanne Lady Million Royal Eau De Parfum, $198 for 80ml
9. VIVA ITALIA
Created to compliment K, the men’s fragrance from the same line, this pretty pink bottle with an ornate gold cap might immediately telegraph what the juice smells like to you. If your imagination can’t conjure it up, let us do the work for you. There is sweet and syrupy cherry, vanilla-like heliotrope, and soft musk but because it’s a Dolce&Gabbana fragrance, expect classic Italian notes within it like zesty lemon and warm cedar too. Warm, wearable, and joyful, this perfume is guaranteed to get people wondering what you’re wearing.
Q by Dolce&Gabbana Eau de Parfum, $200
10. SELF STARTER
Firstly, we love its watery texture that helps this product immediately absorb into the skin and its jasmine scent that’s refreshing. We also think that this product is beneficial for women who have problems like dull skin, texture, and blemishes as it contains something called ActiveRED Technology. It helps the skin to absorb the nutrients it needs to alleviate these problems and carry out what it doesn’t and with repeated use, your skin eventually learns what to do to function to its fullest potential on its own. That doesn’t mean you need to stop using it though as the product also contains fermented kefir that gently promotes cell turnover.
Shiseido Eudermine Activating Essence, $145